MAAWS

Contents

ArmA: Cold War Assault

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The M2 Carl Gustav is the anti-tank recoilless rifle. The weapon is fitted with iron sights, and it is equipped with a 2 power optical sight with a 17 degree field of view. This is fitted with a temperature correction device, and luminous front and rear adaptors are available for night work.

Overview

The Carl Gustav is a portable, anti-tank recoilless rifle. It is designed to launch unguided 84 mm rockets.

It can only load rockets fitted with high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads, and has a maximum effective range of approximately 600 metres. The Carl Gustav is fitted with an optical sight that has a magnification strength of 1.5x.

The Carl Gustav served as the heavy AT counterpart to the lighter M72 LAW rocket launcher used by U.S. forces during the Cold War. Unlike the M72 LAW, the Carl Gustav is far more powerful due to its larger warhead, which could easily destroy Soviet medium tanks like the T-72 after a single hit. Even heavy tanks like the T-80 are not completely safe, and could be disabled from a direct impact, with a second rocket usually outright destroying it.

Its only real downside is its excessive weight, as a single 84 mm rocket will occupy up to six inventory slots at once. This in effect restricts them to being able to fire only one rocket per engagement; assuming that they can't resupply in the field. The M72 LAW on the other hand, only takes up two slots per rocket, and allows the operator to carry up to three rockets while having the same amount of room to spare for their primary weapon (though at the cost of each rocket being less powerful).

Nonetheless, its raw firepower more than makes up for this drawback. When used in an entrenched position with a supply crate of rockets nearby, a small group of Carl Gustav operators can bring an enemy tank formation to grinding halt.

Trivia

While not technically anachronistic or unauthentic, the M2 model of the Carl Gustav was not actually used in large numbers with conventional U.S. forces during the mid-1980s; contrary to its depiction in Cold War Assault.

The U.S. military had long since transitioned to using the guided "M47 Dragon" launcher that was first developed in the mid 1970s, and was considered to be the actual heavy AT weapon used by the U.S. Army at the time.

Despite being completely different weapons, the Carl Gustav shares the same reticle with its Soviet counterpart.

Gallery

ArmA 2

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The Carl Gustav (US designation MAAWS) is the common name for the 84mm man-portable multi-role recoilless rifle.This weapon was itroduced in 1948 and for that time, it have greatly superior accuracy at longer ranges in comparison with similar anti-tank weapons. All other weapons of that era are long out of service, MAAWS is still widespread used.

Unlike its outdated Cold War-era predecessor, the ArmA 2 MAAWS has the ability to load high-explosive dual purpose (HEDP) munitions in addition to its standard HEAT rockets; with the former's warhead having a larger blast radius that makes it useful against light-medium armoured vehicles as well as groups of infantry.

When compared to its USMC counterpart, both it and the MAAWS are fitted with magnified optical scopes (the MAAWS scope has a magnification strength of 3x). However, the U.S. Army's MAAWS has a slightly higher effective firing range of up to 700 metres as opposed to the approximate 500-550 metre limit of the former.

But like the SMAW, the 84 mm HEAT rocket used by the MAAWS is generally not too effective at taking out the latest Russian-made Main Battle Tanks; the T-90 being a good example. But it will still be sufficient against softer-skinned vehicles like the BTR-90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, as well as older, less well-protected MBTs such as the T-72.

Munitions

The ArmA 2 MAAWS can load and fire two types of rockets:

HEAT

Comparable to the HEAA rocket used by the SMAW, the MAAWS' HEAT rocket is mostly identical and is designed with piercing through the armour of heavy IFVs in mind. It is also useful for destroying large structures that are armoured or would otherwise be impervious to smaller explosives.

While it still isn't as powerful as dedicated ATGMs like the Javelin, the HEAT rocket still packs more than enough of a punch to destroy anything that isn't a T-90. Since the warhead isn't designed to be used against anything other than vehicles and structures, it has a tiny splash radius that will barely have any effect on a group of infantry targets unless the gunner lands a direct hit.

The HEAT rocket has an effective range of up to 700 metres and an absolute maximum of 900 metres. It has an initial velocity speed of 250 m/s and a top in-flight speed of 750 m/s. The warhead has a blast radius of just 1.2 metres.

HEDP

MAAWS HEDP

Uses a high-explosive dual purpose (HEDP) warhead.

Just like the SMAW's HEDP rocket, the warhead for the MAAWS' HEDP rocket is designed to be a multi-role munition that can be used against vehicles and infantry alike. It has a slightly bigger splash radius compared to the regular HEAT rocket, and can be used to bring down non-fortified structures rather quickly after two to three direct (or indirect) hits.

Its penetration power is greatly reduced compared to the regular HEAT rocket however, so it should not be employed against anything other than light-medium armoured vehicles like the BTR-90 or Vodnik.

HEDP rockets have an effective range of up to 700 metres and an absolute maximum of 900 metres. It has an initial launch velocity of 250 m/s and can reach speeds of up to 750 m/s mid-flight. The warhead has a blast radius of 12 metres.

Trivia

Despite being shown as a rather common weapon in ArmA 2, the "M3 MAAWS" in real-life was not employed at the platoon level with regular U.S. Army forces in the early 2010 time period that Operation Arrowhead takes place in.

It was only used in limited numbers with select units in Afghanistan, as well as with the 75th Ranger Regiment as a longer ranged counterpart to the disposable "M136" launcher.

The MAAWS itself would not actually be approved for deployment at the platoon-level with conventional U.S. Army forces until 2015. The latest variant, the enhanced "M3A1" model, remains as the most current up-to-date variant in use (as of 2018).

The mid-flight model for its projectiles are not actually MAAWS rounds, but are based on the Russian-made "3M6 Shmel" missile instead. Given that both rounds for the MAAWS have proper "magazine" models when dropped on the ground, it's unclear as to why their in-flight projectiles incorrectly use the wrong model instead.

Gallery

MAAWS post-launch. Note how the fired projectile is actually a Shmel missile.

ArmA 3

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The MAAWS Mk4 (Multi-role Anti-armor Anti-tank Weapon System) is the latest member of the originally Swedish-made recoilless rifle family. The Mk4 is lighter, accurate, and more durable than its predecessors. It can fire multiple types of 84mm rounds, with a maximum effective range of 700 meters against static targets. The Mod 1 has a laser rangefinder and integrated night-vision to accurately engage enemy targets at various ranges, at any hour of the day.

Overview

It can load either HEAT 75 high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) or HE 44 high-explosive (HE) rockets. Its optical sight is night vision-capable, and has ballistic markings that are accurate to distances of up to 1,000 metres. The launcher's optical sight cannot be manually zeroed by the operator, but has an integrated laser rangefinder. The front end of the launcher's barrel has a side rail that supports flashlights and laser pointers.

Essentially NATO's answer to the CSATRPG-42, the Mk4 is designed to be a rugged medium anti-tank launcher that can complement the heavier PCML. Compared to its CSAT counterpart, both weigh the same, have almost identical munitions that can be loaded (at least in terms of the types of available), and a similar firepower output.

The main difference with the Mk4 is that it is available in two variants; the older Mod 0 model which is wielded by both the AAF and FIA rebels, and the newer NATO-exclusive Mod 1 model.

While similar to the RPG-42 in many aspects, the advantage of the Mk4 is its optical sight. The Mod 1 has reticle markers but also utilises a built-in laser rangefinder, which trivialises the need to estimate the distance of a target.

Combined with the ability to toggle a night vision mode, this makes the Mk4 one of the most advanced (albeit unguided) AT launchers in-game.

Variants

MAAWS Mk4 Mod 0

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The MAAWS Mk4 (Multi-role Anti-armor Anti-tank Weapon System) is the latest member of the originally Swedish-made recoilless rifle family. The Mk4 is lighter, accurate, and more durable than its predecessors. It can fire multiple types of 84mm rounds, with a maximum effective range of 700 meters against static targets. The Mod 0 uses a simple daytime optical sight.

The MAAWS Mk4 Mod 0 is simply an older model of the newer Mod 1 launcher. Unlike the NATO-exclusive Mod 1, the Mod 0 is only wielded by AAF troopers and in limited numbers with FIA guerrillas.

It is almost identical both visually and performance-wise to the Mod 1 and also loads the same munitions. The most obvious change between the two is the optical sight; the Mod 0's conventionally-designed scope does not possess the advanced fire control system of the Mod 1.

Though the scope's reticle also relies on drop compensation markers (that are accurate up to a distance of 1,000 metres in 200 metre increments), the scope itself does not have a laser rangefinder. This requires the operator to estimate the approximate distance of their targets in order to land a hit, which can be difficult if the target vehicle is moving quickly.

Likewise, it is also incapable of toggling night vision which makes it somewhat inferior to the RPG-42 when bringing it onto missions that take place in low-light conditions.

Munitions

Both variants of the MAAWS Mk4 are capable of loading and firing two types of rockets:

HEAT 75

The Mk4's HEAT rocket can inflict the same amount of base damage as the RPG-42's PG-42V grenade. The difference with the Mk4's HEAT is that its splash radius is slightly smaller and also flies significantly faster.

The tandem nature of the shaped charge warhead means that it can be used to some effect against slat cages on armoured vehicles. The initial blast will usually destroy the cage while the penetrator will bypass through to the vehicle's actual armour.

It is still recommended to destroy the cage first with a HE 44 rocket however, so as to maximise the chances of the penetrator successfully cutting through the vehicle's main armour and inflicting more damage.

The HEAT rocket has an effective range of up to 700 metres and an absolute maximum of 1,000 metres. It has an initial velocity speed of 350 m/s and a top in-flight speed of 900 m/s. The warhead has a blast radius of 3 metres.

HE 44

HE 44

Uses a high-explosive (HE) warhead.

Like the RPG-42's TBG-42V grenade, the HE 44 rocket is an anti-personnel munition that lacks a penetrator and can only be used against infantry. Its splash radius is practically identical to that of the TBG-42V and deals the same amount of damage as well.

The main difference is that the Mk4's HE rocket has a greater initial launch velocity speed and will fly much faster post-launch. This lets it strike groups of infantry targets at an impressive distance of up to 1,200 metres (theoretically).

It should be noted that this still depends on the elevation of the user's current position, since the rocket will usually lose most of its velocity after ~ 620 metres and begin to drop-off rapidly.

HE 44 rockets have an effective range of up to 700 metres and a near maximum of 1,000 metres. It has an initial velocity speed of 350 m/s and a top in-flight speed of 900 m/s. The warhead has a blast radius of 6 metres.

Camouflage

Both Mod 0 and Mod 1 variants are available in the following finishes:

Trivia

The config name for the Mk4 refers to it as the "MRAWS" rather than as the MAAWS.

Interestingly, the Mk4 would have (supposedly) made its first appearance in the Apex expansion pack as opposed to the Tanks DLC.

Based on the real "M4" model of the Carl Gustav, its model was created by Outsource 2 Us, a third-party artist group based in the Czech Republic.

Curiously enough, the image was also removed from the group's ArtStation gallery soon after Apex's official release, though the thumbnail for the M4 still remained on their profile page long afterwards.

Both variants of the MAAWS Mk4 were added as part of the Tanks DLC. However, they are not considered as premium content and are included as part of the free platform update.

Gallery

Mod 0 launcher.

HE 44 rocket in mid-flight just after being launched by an FIA guerrilla.